Links, celebrations, & a request for your recommendations

[eldritchhobbit]

Happy birthday ti delenn1960, and happy early birthday to lbilover! May you both have fantastic days and wonderful years to come.


In other news...

* Matthew Sanborn Smith of StarShipSofa has a witty new podcast of his own showcasing his short science fiction, and it's definitely worth checking out: Beware the Hairy Mango."

* Fantasy author David B. Coe has posted an excellent column on the usefulness of the term "speculative fiction": "Speculating on Fiction's Name."

* According to my recent poll, the science fiction/fantasy television series my friends are most likely to be watching this fall are V, Dollhouse, Fringe, and Supernatural. I'm a bit behind on Fringe - I may have to wait and catch up via DVD - but I am looking forward to trying V as well as FlashForward when they debut.

* On the latest episode of The Sofanauts podcast, I am one of three guests in a roundtable discussion on "the week in science fiction news" along with accomplished authors Jeff VanderMeer and Jeremiah Tolbert. You can stream or download this episode here.


Last but not least...

A question. I've been thinking about my forthcoming course on "100 Years of Single-Gender Societies in Fiction." Here are the primary novels and short stories that I had in mind related to the subject. Am I missing some classic science fiction titles? Does anyone have suggestions for other books and short stories that belong on a "Best Of" list? I'd welcome any recommendations you may have. Thanks!

Single-Gender Societies in Fiction - A "Best Of" List

Novels
Mizora, Mary E. Bradley Lane (1880-1881)
Herland, Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1915)
The Disappearance, Philip Wylie (1951)
The Holdfast Chronicles, Suzy McKee Charnas (1974-1999)
Meanwhile, Max Handley (1977)
The Wanderground, Sally Miller Gearhart (1979)
Ethan of Athos, Lois McMaster Bujold (1986)
The Shore of Women, Pamela Sargent (1986)
The Gate to Women's Country, Sheri S. Tepper (1988)
Ammonite, Nicola Griffith (1993)

Short Stories
"Consider Her Ways," John Wyndham (1956)
"The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal," Cordwainer Smith (1964)
"When It Changed," Joanna Russ (1972)
"Houston, Houston, Do You Read?," James Tiptree, Jr. (1976)


"By all these lovely tokens
September days are here,
With summer’s best of weather
And autumn’s best of cheer."
- Helen Hunt Jackson, September, 1830-1885

Comments

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

Spartan Planet - A. Bertram Chandler is one that springs to mind most recently

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Outstanding. Thank you so much! I'm adding this to my list.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Sultana's Dream by Rokheya Shekhawat Hossein.

Wikipedia entry here. Technically it doesn't fit into your 100 Years as it was published in 1905, but never mind.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, sweet! That's just the kind of thing I'm looking for - thanks so much. (I intend to "wiggle around" the strict 100-year idea anyway.) I appreciate it!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

:-D

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

Also Poul Anderson's Virgin Planet.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*slaps forehead* Yes, indeed! Thanks so much!

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Swastika Night, if strictly gender-segregated societies count (which I think is the case if you're including the Sherri Tepper?).

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

D'oh! Of course! I think you are the person who suggested that to me ages ago as a dystopian novel. I really thought it was amazing. Thanks so much for turning me onto it! I should've thought of it in this context, too. Good call.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad you found it! Yes, she's knockout. Now I think about it, she has another one which might fit: The End of this Day's Business, in which women are the dominant sex.

[bluetyson.livejournal.com]

Alien 3? :) :) :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

LOL! :) Good point.

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

There was a story I read years ago about astronauts returning to Earth to find only women. I wish I could remember the title or the author. It was pretty good, though.

There's also a book by Frank Herbert called "The White Plague". Pretty terrible stuff, but basically, a plague kills off almost all women.

[abbie (from livejournal.com)]

You're probably thinking of "When It Changed" by Joanna Russ. Sturgis made us read it for class, and I remember it well. Tends to make an impact, I suppose. :)

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

It might well be that! Thanks :-)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*high fives*

[vyrdolak.livejournal.com]

Showtime's "Masters of Horror" had an episode with a similar plot, "The Screwfly Solution".

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Based on the short story by Raccoona Sheldon - very good stuff! Thanks for the reminder.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Thanks to you, I am reading The White Plague right now. Well, not this exact instant, since I'm typing a response to you. But this day. Gracias!

And that story might be "When It Changed" perhaps - or maybe it's "The Crime and the Glory of Commander Suzdal"? I'll also keep my eyes open for others that fit that description. Thanks!

[peadarog.livejournal.com]

It might well have been "When it changed" as one of your students has pointed out...

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it would be considered a classic, but there's "Alph," by Charles Eric Maine.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Outstanding. Thank you so much! I'm adding this to my list.

[sittingduck1313.livejournal.com]

I seem to recall that the Tleilaxu (sp?) from Frank Herbert's Dune Chronicles all male.

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hadn't thought of that! Good one.

[abbie (from livejournal.com)]

I can only think of The Left Hand of Darkness, and that, as you know, isn't necessarily single-gender in the way that some of the others are. Still pretty interesting -- a planet of third gender people, if you will. :)

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

Excellent point!

[delenn1960.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much, dear Eldritchhobbit, for the lovely birthday wishes and the nice gift!! It was a pleasant surprise and a kind gesture of friendship!!

With hugs Martina!!!

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

My pleasure! I hope all is well with you, my friend. Hugs back to you!

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the birthday wishes! *hugs*

[eldritchhobbit.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*